Rules & Guidelines Revisited

[Garland-Green]

Why have rules, when we are under the Grace of God? These rules are not here to give you righteousness before God. We believe that is only possible through faith in Christ. These rules are here solely to make the running of this guild easier. It is necessary in all public rooms, where humans are gathered and interacting - regenerated (See 1 Timothy 5), or unregenerated to have rules to restrict unwanted behavior, and to prevent conflict. Ideally there should be no need for regulations, but we are not living in an ideal world, dealing with only ideal people.

1 Corinthians 10:23
"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.

1. We ask that all applicants and members refrain from using chat-speak,
and write comprehensibly so that we as moderators can understand what you are saying. That means you have to have a moderately good understanding of sentence structure and the English language. Join requests may be refused on the sole basis of being incomprehensible. We are not grammar Nazis, but we ask this to minimize the chance of misunderstandings, conflict and confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). Already existing memberships may also be terminated if post and threads are too incomprehensible, for the same reasons.

2. Please check sexualized language at the door. We live in a world where lust is seen as a good thing and contemporary language seems to reflect this attitude. We should moderate ourselves and our tongues so that what we say and do does not cause anyone to fall (1 Corinthians 6:9). Remember that words are not just words. They carry with them meaning and power. Power to make someone fall - or power to build them up.

Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

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3. Posts/threads containing pornographic or what may be considered unlawful material will be reported to a Gaia moderator. Material viewed as intentionally offensive will be deleted, or saved for future reference.

4. Guild moderators have the authority, and are encouraged to ban and censor repeat offenders. Please try to keep things polite and friendly. Swearing or cursing should not occur and falls under the polite rule. Be civil and courteous towards your fellow guild members. Abusive language is not permitted. If your post is excessively vulgar, insulting, explicit, or hateful, it may be removed and disciplinary actions may be taken.

5. It is not permitted to add moderators in this guild to your ignore list. By doing so you are saying you are above and beyond instruction, correction and feedback. Adding a moderator to your ignore list will result in being banned from the guild. Saying/writing you do not ever want to talk to someone who is moderator ever again in the guild is also forbidden and will result in your membership being terminated. No warning will be given and the three strikes rule does not apply in this particular situation. Ignoring a moderator goes against the very idea of the guild and is both an explicit and implicit rule violation. If you have an issue with a moderator present your case in an orderly respectful manner to the guild Captain.

6. If you see someone engaging in rule breaking, whether those rules are guild rules or Gaia's Terms of Service, whether intentional or unintentional, do not confront them, at least not in the guild. That means do not reply to their post, unless you are a moderator. You may confront them as you deem appropriate if you are a moderator. Make sure to notify a guild moderator with your complaint. PM any of the moderators in the guild. If you feel the Holy Spirit is pushing you to correct the rule-breaker you should do so through Private Messages, with gentleness, love and scripture. It is important that you do not add fuel to the fire, and use a sledgehammer where you should use a quill, ending up guilty of the same crimes.

7. What should you do if you have a problem with someone? If you feel slighted, personally offended or you feel someone has sinned against you or the community in actions or words, or you feel mad about something said? My first advice is to not use the guild to vent your frustrations. If you feel someone offended you in one of the threads talk to them in private. Perhaps take a breath first and wait a day before writing? Sometimes when you have cooled down you are able to be more reasonable with the person who offended you. It is not a rule that you should, just friendly advise. Public outbursts of anger and ad hominem attacks however justified someone may feel or are in doing so will not be tolerated in the guild. What you are doing outside the guild is your own business and not a subject to guild rules, unless things are said to portray the guild or members in an unfair/dishonest light [See also rule # 15]. I however still advice against public display of rage outside the guild in the interest of peace and for your own sake.

8. (1 Timothy 5:20) For public prevention, if the situation calls for it,
an offender may be called out for his/hers transgression in the thread/threads the incident occurred.

9. You as a member are allowed to disagree on topics, opinions and doctrine even if it is the opinions of a moderator. You are allowed to express your opinions in the threads of the guild by quoting those you disagree with and engaging them in a conversation or debate, but do so respectfully. Violation of this rule could be grounds for termination of membership. See rule number 4.

James 3:10 NIV:
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

10. Ridiculing and harassment (harassment is not the same as constructive criticism) of members or non members is not allowed.
Harassment includes posts of an inflammatory nature. Posting material that is inflammatory or intended solely to offend or provoke other members is called 'trolling', and is not permitted.

Though we operate by the 'three strikes and you are out' rule, special consideration can and will be made in each case, depending on severity, attitude, and the offenders willingness to accept fault and correction.

11. Any posts made in this guild may be a subject to editing by a moderator if it contains doctrinal errors, heresies, or inaccuracies. This is especially true, and for the most part to be carried out if you post in a teaching capacity. You are agreeing to this when posting in the guild. Re-editing the post back to its original content is not permissible and is a bannable offence unless approved by the moderator editing your post. The moderator who sees a member violating central doctrines of Christianity should initially address the member who made the post. If changes are made to the post it is required of the moderator that he or she makes it evident what changes has been made, for what reason they have been made and who made the changes so that no one think this is being said by the OP. It should also be noted that the three strikes rule do not apply should you choose to disregard this rule.

12. No topic is off topic, that being said, take into consideration when posting something you know will be viewed as negative about Christianity make sure that it is done in an appropriate way. Use the forums as they are intended to be used. Examples of posts that are not ok: "Christianity is wrong." and "There is no God." Posts of this nature will be considered inflammatory and deleted regardless of what forum or topic they are made in. Use references, or sources in order for other members to be able to see your intentions, and make it possible to answer your claims.

13. Joining to ridicule, show your discontent with Christianity in order to proselytize for competing worldviews will not be tolerated, and will result in being banned from the guild. This guild was created to aid in a better understanding of the Bible, and was not meant to be a mouthpiece for conflicting ideologies, religions or cults. A moderator deducing that you have a covert agenda, an ulterior motive behind wanting to be a member of this guild may refuse to approve your request to join. If you join we therefore ask that you respect the purpose and idea behind this guild.

Those of you who consider yourself Christians remember that we are members of the same body with Christ as the head. Let us represent him well to those members or strangers who do not believe.

14. If the guild happens to be public, and you, as a non-member
decide to post, the above mentioned rules still apply. Member or not,
by posting you agree to the terms and conditions stated in the Rules & Guidelines. Though we can not ban non-members we will delete topic and posts made by non-members refusing to comply. Quitting the guild because of major doctrinal disagreements, that is to say unscriptural deviation from orthodoxy when it comes to core doctrines, or insurmountable differences of opinion to then post in the guild as a non-member will be seen as an attempt to circumvent desired guild conduct. All subsequent posts will therefor be removed without consideration of content.

15. You are not to share posts or private conversations had in the guild outside of a guild-setting. This also includes naming guild-members without having the expressed approval of the person you are quoting/naming in a different setting, unless it is a TOS violation. An example of such a setting where it would not be alright to share in-guild conversations would be The Chatterbox. You may share posts made in the guild only if you take steps to protect people's right to privacy by anonymizing what is being quoted. This means that if you are quoting what someone has said in a guild-setting that you are to remove anything that could be used to identify the person you are quoting from the text. If you make use of screenshots from the guild please take steps to blur/erase names and avatars. This is mainly to foster a safe environment. The crew can of course discuss things said in the guild and outside the guild if it somehow violates the rules & guidelines or has impact on the daily running of the guild.

16. Please refrain from using image macros [a photographic image on which a humorous caption or catchphrase has been digitally superimposed] when replying in a thread. Images of this nature will be edited out of posts by a moderator.

17. Repeat topics of a controversial nature can be locked. When locked a link to the original thread will be posted in the thread in question.


All rules are in effect as of the date they were written unless otherwise stated. No rule is retroactive unless they are rules of an obvious nature that should not have been necessary to write. There are explicit rules and implicit rules. The explicit rules are written here in the 'Rules & Guidelines' the implicit rules are found in the Bible. If we find that someone who is a brother or sister violates Biblical conduct it could be grounds for termination of membership whether those rules are physically written in the 'Rules & Guidelines' or not. This is what is meant with 'rules of an obvious nature'. Christian brothers and sisters are especially encouraged to familiarize themselves with Scripture and to walk in the Holy Spirit.

Questions about the rules or guidelines can be directed at me (Garland-Green), or any of the crew. You can also, if you prefer, leave feedback in the Suggestions & feedback sub forum. Admins and crew members are accountable of your safety here and if you have any problems, don't hesitate to contact us with ANY concerns. The info will be shared with the admins only.

Rules may be subject to change, and to avoid unintentionally breaking rules it is a good idea from time to time to visit this page to stay informed of changes.


2 Peter 3:11-12
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.  

[Garland-Green]

[Last update: Saturday May 13th 2013]  

[Garland-Green]

[Last update: Sunday September 1st 2013]

New Additions:
If you see someone engaging in rule breaking, whether intentional or unintentional, do not confront them, at least not in the guild. That means do not reply to their post. Notify a guild moderator with your complaint. PM any of the moderators in the guild. If you feel the Holy Spirit is pushing you to correct the rule-breaker you should do so through Private Messages, with gentleness, love and scripture. It is important that you do not add fuel to the fire, and use a sledgehammer where you should use a quill, ending up guilty of the same crimes.

Though we operate by the 'three strikes and you are out' rule, special consideration can and will be made in each case, depending on severity, attitude, and the offenders willingness to accept fault and correction.  

[Garland-Green]

[Last update: Saturday September 21st 2013]

Any posts made in this guild may be a subject to editing by a moderator if it contains doctrinal errors, or inaccuracies. This is especially true if you post in a teaching capacity. You agree to allowing us to correct your posts when posting in the guild. Re-editing the post back to its original content is not permissible and is a bannable offence unless approved by the moderator editing your post.  

[Garland-Green]

[Last update: Sunday September 22nd 2013]

(1 Timothy 5:20) For public prevention, if the situation calls for it,
an offender may be called out for his/hers transgression in the thread/threads the incident occurred.  

[Garland-Green]

[Last update: Sunday October 20th 2013]
Alterations are highlighted.

Guild moderators have the authority, and are encouraged to ban and censor repeat offenders.

If you see someone engaging in rule breaking, whether intentional or unintentional, do not confront them, at least not in the guild. That means do not reply to their post, unless you are a moderator. You may confront them as you deem appropriate if you are a moderator. Make sure to notify a guild moderator with your complaint. PM any of the moderators in the guild. If you feel the Holy Spirit is pushing you to correct the rule-breaker you should do so through Private Messages, with gentleness, love and scripture. It is important that you do not add fuel to the fire, and use a sledgehammer where you should use a quill, ending up guilty of the same crimes.

Any posts made in this guild may be a subject to editing by a moderator if it contains doctrinal errors, heresies, or inaccuracies. This is especially true if you post in a teaching capacity. You are agreeing to this when posting in the guild. Re-editing the post back to its original content is not permissible and is a bannable offence unless approved by the moderator editing your post. It should also be noted that the three strikes rule do not apply should you choose to disregard this rule.  

[Garland-Green]

[Last update: Saturday November 16th 2013]

If the guild happens to be public, and you, as a non-member
decide to post, the above mentioned rules still apply. Member or not,
by posting you agree to the conditions and rules stated in the Rules & Guidelines.
Though we can not ban non-members we will
delete topic and posts made by non-members refusing to comply.  

[Garland-Green]

[Last update: Wednesday November 20th 2013]

We ask that all applicants refrain from using chat-speak,
and write comprehensibly so that we as moderators can understand what you are saying. That means you have to have a moderately good understanding of sentence structure and the English language. Join requests may be refused on the sole basis of being incomprehensible. We are not grammar Nazis, but we ask this to minimize the chance of misunderstandings, conflict and confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).  

[Garland-Green]

[Last update: Friday January 3rd 2014]

Why have rules, when we are under the Grace of God? These rules are not here to give you righteousness before God. We believe that is only possible through faith in Christ. These rules are here solely to make the running of this guild easier. It is necessary in all public rooms, where humans are gathered and interacting - regenerated (See 1 Timothy 5), or unregenerated to have rules to restrict unwanted behavior, and to prevent conflict. Ideally there should be no need for regulations, but we are not living in an ideal world, dealing with only ideal people.

1 Corinthians 10:23
"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.  

[Garland-Green]

[Last update: Monday January 13th 2014]

A moderator deducing that you have a covert agenda, an ulterior motive behind wanting to be a member of this guild may refuse to approve your request to join.  

[Garland-Green]

[Last update: Friday June 13th 2014]

It is not permitted to add moderators in this guild to your ignore list. By doing so you are saying you are above and beyond instruction, correction and feedback.
Adding a moderator to your ignore list will result in being banned from the guild.
If you have an issue with a moderator present your case in an orderly respectful manner to the guild Captain.  

[Garland-Green]

[Last update: Friday June 13th 2014]

Quitting the guild because of doctrinal disagreements, or insurmountable differences of opinion to then post in the guild as a non-member will be seen as an attempt to circumvent desired guild conduct. All subsequent posts will therefor be removed without consideration of content.  

[Garland-Green]

[Last update: Wednesday December 3rd 2014]

Quitting the guild because of major doctrinal disagreements, that is to say unscriptural deviation from orthodoxy when it comes to core doctrines, or insurmountable differences of opinion to then post in the guild as a non-member will be seen as an attempt to circumvent desired guild conduct. All subsequent posts will therefor be removed without consideration of content.

Correction in bold text.  

[Garland-Green]

[Last update: Monday December 29th 2014

A small addition to clarify a few things concerning the rule of editing posts.

The moderator who sees a member violating central doctrines of Christianity should initially address the member who made the post. If changes are made to the post it is required of moderator that he or she makes it evident what changes has been made, for what reason they have been made and who made the changes so that no one think this is being said by the OP.